The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-16


morning found him alone with his Ma
ker in quest of strength and God-direc
ton for the labor of the day before him.
Evening discovered him again commun-
ing with the Almighty Father, render
ing him all praise for the results of the
day. Were there leper to be cleansed.
the blind made to see, the sick to
be healed, or the dead to be brought
back to life, his eyes were invariably
first turned to him from whom he truly
recognized, came his wonderful power
to do his marvellous works. Then what
a prayer was that which he raised in
the garden of Gethsemane on the ap-
proach of that awful event, his cruel
6xion and death ? So full of trustful-
ness and obedience and main strength.
While once more, how does his last
uttered prayer upon the cross reveal
how much he depended upon and was
sustained by the invisible power from
on high? Who can honestly dwell on
this grand prayerful life and its holy
mission, and then feel warranted in
asserting that there is nothing in prayer
and that it has no reality ?
Not only does Christ in his life show
the trueness of prayer, but his disciples
unfold it also as likewise the early
fathers and Christians of to-day. All
giving unmistakable proof of its gen.
uineness, power and helpfulness.
On due thought there can be no doubt
but that much skepticism regarding
prayer has arisen from the fact that it
has seemingly, in such numerous cases,
been so uDavailing. But the trouble is
not with prayer; the rather with those
won't to practice it. They were I'M
doubtedly forgetful, or were not cog
infant of the real nature and spirit of
prayer, and the essentially of a full
and constant remembrance Of them.
Thus their apparent aim was either
that of experiment or trial, or of blind
or selfish motive devoid, in consequence,
of the true and indispensable requisites
to an offering Of prayer.
Al,-wise, as manifested in the rest of
his vast Creation, so here as further
indication of this infinite wisdom, God
has ordained things in this direction.
Though the privilege is open to all men
to commune with him, yet in order for
man to do so he must needs conform to
the certain conditions which God has
declared necessary, ere he can offer
right prayer, be heard, answered and
benefited.
This is no more than could be ex-
pected for when properly locked at,
it amply evinces its reasonableness.
Where is there the parent that does not
implicitly require compliance with GER
tain conditions before willing to listen
to and consider the favor asked him by
his child 2 And these requirements are
that the benefit desired be sought in the
spirit of sincerity and trustfulness.
Surely no parent, not even for a mo-
ment, would knowingly think of such
thing as granting Or even countenancing
favor asked him, were it desired as a
matter of trial, or in a.heedless or self
seeking spirit, wanting in simplicity
and confidence. Why, then, should it
appear at all singular, or improbable
that God should have made communi-
cation with him, also thing subject to
definite conditions ? He created man.
Why, then, may it not be that in this
wise he has constituted man like unto
himself =?
COnformably, since "God is spirit, :"
a very natural requirement to converse
with him, is, that ''they that worship
him must worship him in spirit and in
truth, (which is to say, in spirit of
godliness, believingly and full of unfal-
tering faith.
The evident reason for the wonderful
and all sufficient helpfulness which
Christ 80 clearly received from prayer,
is due, without doubt, to the fact that
he always prayed sin spirit and in
truth" So also, however, it may be
said of all who have found prayer a
source of benefit to them, they have
sought it truthfully and trustfully.
And how untiring, indeed, were the
the efforts of our Lord to teach men to
pray-to come into spiritual commun-
ion with God-to know him and real
ize in him that fountain head, from
whence issues that counsel, guidance
and strength SO necessary to the check
cred course of life. Hence, in his Cos
pei, Jesus declares, "Ask and ye shall
receive" Therefore, say unto you,
What things soever We desire, when ye
pray, believe that ye shall receive them,
and ye shall receive them.'"
However, be it straightway under
stood, these passages by no means ad-
NIT of a literal Interpretation. Their
underlying significance can in nowise
allow of it; for it renders them una
voidably misleading and misrepresent-
ing, and a no small cause of so much
disheartedness and doubt in reference
to PRAYER another illustration of the